Mimesis and Atonement Ren Girard and the Doctrine of Salvation [Paperback]

How are we to best understand the statement of faith that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again 'for us and for salvation?' This question has animated Christian thought for two millennia: it has also bitterly divided believers, not least in Reformation and post-Reformation disputes about atonement, justification, sanctification and sacrifice. Ren? Girard'sViolence and the Sacred(1972) made startling connections between religion, violence and culture. His work has enlivened the theological and philosophical debate once again, especially the question of whether and how we are to understand Christ's death as a 'sacrifice'.Mimesis and Atonementbrings together philosophers from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, and Jewish backgrounds to examine the continued significance of Girard's work. They do so in the light of new developments, such as the controversial 'new scholarship' on Paul.Mimesis and Atonementbrings together a variety of perspectives, giving the reader a glimpse of the significance and richness of Girards work for religious thinkers & Girard is not a figure that theologians can afford to ignore, and this book is a fine example of engagement with his thought & This reviewer commends Mimesis and Atonement to all scholars and students who have any interest in the significance of Girard for atonement theory, and for broader questions of sacrifice, violence, and reconciliation. Reading Religion

Sheelah Trefl? Hiddenis Research Associate in the Heythrop Institute: Religion and Society at the University of London, UK. She is the editor ofJewish, Christian, and Islamic Mystical Perspectives on the Love of God(2014).

Michael Kirwan SJis Director of the Heythrop Institute: Religion and Science at the University of London, UK.

List of Contributors

Preface

Foreword
Rowan Williams (Master, Magdalene College, The University of Cambridge, UK)

1Traversing Hostility: Thesls+